Monday, March 21, 2011

Georgia charter school ruling to reverberate across nation  | ajc.com

Georgia charter school ruling to reverberate across nation | ajc.com

Georgia charter school ruling to reverberate across nation

Decision soon in casedetermining charter school control

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A state Supreme Court opinion that will decide who has the power to fund and open public charter schools is expected by March 31, ending a constitutional challenge that threatens to derail the education of thousands of students.

The two-year legal battle launched by seven local districts over power, money and the exclusive right to open neighborhood schools has threatened Georgia’s reputation as a national leader in education reform.

The feud began in 2009 when the Georgia Charter Schools Commission, a state board, got into the business of approving and funding neighborhood schools such as Cherokee Charter Academy.

The school, which plans to open in the fall as Cherokee County’s first charter campus, received more than 1,300